The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-05-05

looked little like madness for 80 men 10 at
tempt to force their way through in the face of
such overpowerng numbers. But our brave
Capt. Turner was equal TO the emergency, and
mounting his horse and placing himself at the
head of tho column, he gave the command TO
90 forward, which was obeyed with will.
Our route lay through broken, rocky coun-
try, and il seemed TO me that the farther we
went the worse il cot At almost every house
the Johannes could be seen skipping" out
when We put in our appearance. We OCCASION
ally took one ill.," but did not go oct OF our
way after them. IL seemed that Frecman's
men had enlisted from this part of the country,
and were all at home on furlough. Ii was the
most exciting trip ever made. We were in a
tight place. aud we knew il, but trusted TO the
good sense of our brave Captain, and he took us
through to Batesville in safety.
We came suddenly upon one OF Freeman's
picket-pUsts one night, running the men into
their camp, which was only about half mile
away. We passed by and rode seven or eight
miles 10 house, where we found plenty of
feed for our horses; bat we had scarcely got
our horses unhridled before bang! bang! went
the guns in our rear. We fell in and stood the
Southern gents OFF until our almOst-exhausted
horses had eaten and rested up little, when
we again mounted aud that day rode safely
iuto Batesville with
Ten or DOZEN PRISONERS.
We lay in Batesville some three days, took
good rest, and the commander Of the post sent
D.. cs,or. e 400 of the ist Neb. Cav. to help US
through, the dangerous part OF our journey
back TO Springfield. On our way back we ran
foul of the rebel Freeman and his command,
and scattered them TO the four winds. We cap
.urea many Of them and burned their train.
| We then left our escort, aud the original 30
started for Springfield by way Of FOrsythe.
Before we reached the latter place, however,
we learned that the White River was high, and
knowing that there was no ferry at that place,
we turned to the left and struck the river in a
bend some distance to the west. IL was about
SHUTDOWN when We arrived at the river. We
found no way Of crossing, rs the river was too
! full 20 think Of fording. We had nothing 10
do but 10 90 into camp for the night. The next
morning found US in bend of White River
somewhat in the shape Of a horseshoe; our
| position being AT or near the " toe" and the
space between the "calks occupied by band
| of rebel bushwhackers, whose numbers were
rapidly increasing every hour. Here We were
in trap, rs it were, but
NOT DESTINED TO STAY CAUGHT.
Our Captain was Yankee, and had no doubt
i'm those grand old days before the wah >
palmed oil many wooden nutmeg upon the
Southern gentry, and why not outwit then
nowg
We soon took in the situation. and each one
cast an ann ous look TO the opposite bank Of IN,
stream. For my part, felt that had business
in Springfield which needed my immediate at
tention, but between me and Springfield Their,
seemed TO be an impossible gulf The Captain
realized the fact that there was "A chance for u
TO do much worse than 10 cross White River
even though il was nearly at full banks. Tn
fact is, ii WIS grounding case"-the rive
had 10 be crossed.
We managed 10 obtain two old dugout canoes
with which three men could manage TO cross il
each at once; but there were 80 of US, witt
horses aud equipments-how would we &c
them over? This question was solved by Tn